American Kennel Club - The Dog's Champion

Legislative Information and Updates from the AKC

A Publication of the AKC Government Relations Department

December 2017

What’s New from AKC Government Relations

Happy Holidays from the Government Relations team! As we wrap up the year, we want to thank you again for all your time, energy, calls, and emails that have helped to protect the rights of responsible dog owners, breeders, and exhibitors in 2017. There have been many challenges, but thanks to your hard work, 2017 has brought many successes as well. To learn more, be sure to read the 2017 Legislative Year in Review.

Dogs enjoying the holidays at the AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin in Orlando, FL. Photo (c) AKC Government Relations

2017 Legislative Year in Review

2017 was another busy, but successful year for AKC Government Relations (AKC GR), and the many state federations, legislative liaisons, and advocates around the country dedicated to protecting the rights of responsible owners and breeders.

The AKC GR team tracked approximately 2,000 legislative proposals at the state, federal and local level in 2017. The department also monitored hundreds of regulatory issues at the federal and state levels. The continued high volume of legislative and regulatory proposals addressing animal issues demonstrates that animals – and especially dogs—are an increasingly important part of American lives and culture.

America Needs More Bomb-Sniffing Dogs Raised in Our Own Country to Keep Us Safe

*This article originally appeared on Foxnews.com

Recent congressional testimony reveals that the United States is relying heavily on foreign outsourcing to provide one of our most essential frontline defenses against terrorist attacks – highly specialized bomb-sniffing dogs used at airports, stadiums, political gatherings and other public venues.

You may encounter one of these dogs at an airport if you are traveling over the holiday season, using their keen sense of smell to find deadly explosives to keep you and your fellow travelers safe.

AKC Adopts New Legislative Position Statement Supporting Domestically-bred Working & Detection Dogs

Today, military working dogs such as explosives detection dogs play a visible and unprecedented role in our national security. Few people realize, however, that 80-90 percent of the dogs America relies on for national security are imported from overseas vendors. Reliance on foreign and uncertain sources for such an extraordinarily high percentage of the dogs that protect the public and our national security should concern all Americans.

AKC Adopts Legislative Position Statement on Groomer Safety and Licensing

In the last several years, AKC has monitored an increasing number of proposals at the state and local level that are designed to license and regulate professional groomers and grooming salons. In some cases, proposals have been introduced in response to a tragic and negligent accident at a grooming salon. In other cases, proposals are a response to recognition of a general need.

AKC Board Adopts New Position Statement on Civil Damages in Cases Involving Injury to Pets

The AKC Board of Directors has adopted a new Canine Legislation Position Statement that supports the use of traditional “economic” damages and opposes the awarding of “non-economic damages” in cases involving the negligent injury to pets.

In Case You Missed it — In Session: Mitigating the Shortage of Explosives Detection Dogs

As we enter the holiday season, the American Kennel Club’s Government Relations department is pleased to share with you the latest issue of In Session, AKC GR’s newsletter for members of Congress and other policymakers.

This issue delves into the security challenges posed by the shortage of American explosives detection dogs and shares AKC’s commitment to assist with development and procurement of quality, domestically-bred dogs suitable for training as military working dogs.

This issue also features a profile of Congressman Ralph Abraham from Louisiana’s 5th district. Abraham, a sponsor of National Purebred Dog Day, is both a medical doctor and a veterinarian, and calls on this experience in his role as a member of Congress.

We invite you to enjoy this issue of In Session and to share it with your legislators. Be sure to visit AKC’s Legislative Action Center (www.akcgr.org) for talking points and more resources to share with your community and policymakers to promote responsible dog ownership and breeding. If you have any questions on legislative issues in your area, please contact AKC Government Relations at (919) 816-3720 or doglaw@akc.org.

Read In Session

AKC GR Attends National League of Cities “City Summit"

The AKC Government Relations (AKC GR) team was represented for the first time at the 2017 National League of Cities (NLC) Summit, held this year in Charlotte, North Carolina. Throughout the multi-day conference, Jennifer Clark, AKC’s Director of Legislative Outreach, and Nathan Makla, Government Relations Administrator, met with and provided information to elected officials and staff from communities across the country.

AKC GR Awards Help Support Your Club’s Community Outreach –Nominate your legislator today!

It’s that time of year again … It’s time to express your appreciation for a federal, state, or local elected official who has taken a stand to protect responsible dog ownership.

Consider nominating a deserving legislator you have worked with for an AKC Legislator of the Year Award. This award is a wonderful way to recognize lawmakers who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to promoting responsible dog ownership, the well-being of dogs, and protecting the rights of dog owners, exhibitors, and responsible breeders.

AKC’s Sheila Goffe presents Georgia Senator Bill Heath Legislator of the Year Award for his work defending responsible dog ownership.

Legislative Information and Updates

Congress, seven states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico are currently in session, and seven states are in a special legislative session. AKC Government Relations is currently tracking more than 2,000 bills on the federal, state, and local levels. For more information on these bills, and information on how you can get involved, visit our Legislative Action Center at www.akcgr.org. Here are some highlights of pending canine legislation issues across the country.

Visit the 2017 Legislation Tracking page for the most up-to-date information on state and federal legislation. This site, updated each weekday, provides the latest bill text, status, and links to legislative alerts posted by the AKC. Click on the links below to view highlights of issues that are being tracked by AKC Government Relations:

Federal — issues that may affect all dog owners in the U.S.
State — issues specific to your state
Local/Other — issues at the city, county, and metropolitan levels, and in U.S. territories

Please contact AKC GR at (919) 816-3720 or doglaw@akc.org for more information or to let us know what’s happening in your local community.

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